COTEHELE’S National Trust gardeners have reported a good year for mistletoe in the estate’s ten acres of orchards.

Cotehele is one of the few National Trust locations in the South West where mistletoe is thriving. In the UK mistletoe has long been associated with Christmas and mid-winter customs, probably dating way back into prehistory as a symbol of ongoing life in the winter months.

The kissing custom is a very British version of those ancient traditions. 

Chris Groves, National Trust senior gardener, said Cotehele’s traditional orchard provides a perfect habitat for mistletoe to flourish.

‘Part of the essential conservation work we carry out at the property involves cutting it back and removing the distinctive mistletoe clumps. If left untended, the mistletoe would eventually suck the life out of the tree - so traditional management helps to keep our orchards healthy.’

National Trust Cotehele in the Tamar Valley in Cornwall is an area historically famed for its apple and cherry orchards. The old orchard, which dates from pre 1731, is full of character and mystery, while the ‘Mother Orchard’, which contains 300 trees and 120 delicious apple varieties, was planted by the local community in 2007 to establish a gene pool of heritage varieties. 

Data shows that mistletoe distribution is closely linked to that of lightly managed, traditional orchards, particularly in the most prolific mistletoe growing area of the South West and Midlands.

Chris said: ‘Mistletoe benefits from management. Unchecked, it will swamp its host tree and ultimately cause it to die. So we ensure we undertake regular, managed cropping making sure that the host tree remains productive while ensuring that a healthy population of mistletoe will persist.’

Mistletoe also plays an important role in supporting wildlife. It provides winter food for birds such as the blackcap and mistle thrush. It also supports a total of six specialist insects including the scarce mistletoe marble moth, some sap-sucking bugs and the affectionately named ‘kiss me slow weevil’ (Ixapion variegatum).   

Mistletoe is now available to buy at Cotehele, with proceeds going back into the conservation of the historical orchard. at the property.